Japanese Immigration to Peru

Japanese immigration to Peru started at the end of the 1800s and has had a big impact on both countries. Peru was the first country in Latin America to build formal ties with Japan and the first to accept Japanese settlers. This movement, filled with struggles and cultural mixing, led to Peru having the second-largest Japanese population in South America, after Brazil. The Japanese-Peruvian (Nikkei) people are known for their endurance and influence, making major contributions to Peruvian society, from food to politics.

Historical background and origins of Japanese immigration to Peru

The movement of Japanese people to Peru goes beyond simple migration; it’s also a story about official agreements, economic reasons, and hopes for a better life. Connections between Japan and Peru started long before mass migration, through early trade and changing relationships.

Early diplomatic ties between Japan and Peru

Even though the large-scale movement of Japanese people to Peru happened more recently, the first links go back further. Through the Manila Galleon trade, Spanish merchants traded with Japan in the Philippines and brought items to places like Peru, which was part of the Spanish Empire at that time. However, Japan kept itself mostly closed off from foreigners for a long period.

Peru became independent in 1821, just as Japan was coming out of isolation during the Meiji era starting in 1868. In June 1873, Peru and Japan officially signed a Treaty of Friendship and Navigation, making Peru the first Latin American country to start formal relations with Japan. This agreement followed the María Luz incident in 1872, where Japan freed Chinese laborers from poor conditions on a Peruvian ship. The event showed growing ties between the countries and was an early step toward Japanese migration to Peru.

Reasons for Japanese migration to Peru

Rural Japan in the late 1800s faced big changes. Many farmers lost jobs due to industrial growth and high taxes, leaving millions struggling. Rumors in villages spoke of a land “full of gold” where winters were mild and farm work paid more-this place was Peru.

For Japan, letting people emigrate eased poverty and helped build international relationships. Japan allowed organized emigration in 1885. Meanwhile, Peru’s need for labor grew. Slavery ended in 1854 and hiring Chinese workers was banned in 1874. Few Europeans wanted to come, leaving farms without workers. Peruvian business leaders, like Augusto B. Leguía, promoted Peru to Japanese farmers as a land with good weather and new chances. With Japan’s push factors and Peru’s pull factors, migration became possible.

The first Japanese immigrants

The main wave of Japanese arrived on April 3, 1899, with 790 men on the ship Sakura Maru from Yokohama to Callao, Peru, most between ages 20 and 45. These men were not the very first Japanese in Peru-some Japanese traders briefly visited centuries earlier-but this marked the start of a lasting Japanese community. Most early settlers came from Okinawa, Gifu, Hiroshima, Kanagawa, and Osaka. They planned short stays on farms, hoping to earn money and return home, but their arrival in 1899 started the second-largest Japanese community in South America, after Brazil.

Main phases of Japanese migration to Peru

Japanese immigration to Peru happened in several stages, not all at once. Each wave was shaped by new economic realities, changing government policies, and what both Japan and Peru needed at the time.

First major wave (late 1800s-early 1900s)

The Sakura Maru’s landing marked the first big group of contract workers from Japan. Hundreds arrived each year for about a decade. By 1909, there were 6,295 Japanese immigrants, but only 250 were women. Most worked in farming, especially on sugar plantations, far from the dreamland they heard about in Japan.

Plantation life was tough: over a fifth of those who arrived on the Sakura Maru died from diseases like malaria and typhoid in four years. On some plantations, hardly anyone could work after just a few months. Despite the hardships, immigration companies kept promoting Peru. By 1919, about 18,000 people had left Japan for Peru, with the early years creating small communities despite losses and difficulties.

Labor contracts and settlement in rural Peru

Almost all Japanese immigrants came to Peru on four-year farming contracts, mainly for sugarcane fields near the coast. The work was extremely hard, pay was often less than promised, and living conditions were poor. Many died or suffered from sickness.

Unlike in Brazil, where some Japanese could buy land, this was nearly impossible in Peru. Laws favored white landowners and excluded Japanese from farming their own land. By 1910, only “Peruvians or Europeans” could settle in the fertile valleys. Many Japanese left the farms after their contracts and moved to cities, where, still facing discrimination, they tried new things to survive and settle.

Family reunification and growth of the community

After the early male-only migration, Japanese men who stayed wanted to bring their families. Over time, more women joined them, leading to stable families and communities. This shift helped the Japanese community grow stronger and more rooted in Peru.

By the 1920s, many had turned to city life and small businesses. In Lima, Japanese-owned shops, barbers, markets, and bakeries appeared everywhere. By 1924, nearly three-quarters of barbershops in Lima were owned by Japanese people, and by 1930, almost half of all Japanese immigrants ran businesses. They also formed savings groups called tanomoshi because local banks refused them service, helping each other get started and build financial independence.

Integration and challenges faced by Japanese immigrants

Becoming part of Peruvian society was not easy for Japanese immigrants. They faced strong prejudice and tough economic situations from the start because of their foreign background and success.

Discrimination and economic hardship

From day one, Japanese people were seen as cheap labor and outsiders. The hard work and high death rates on farms were just the beginning. Later, when some became successful in the cities, new laws and attitudes tried to limit them. For example, in 1932, a law was passed saying at least 80% of store workers had to be non-Asian Peruvians, and Japanese-run businesses could be taken over by non-Japanese owners. Such rules forced many out of their livelihoods.

Strikes, labor conditions, and their effects

Japanese workers often stood up for themselves with strikes when contracts were not honored or pay was less than agreed. Plantation owners answered with force, using guards and soldiers. This pushback led to even more suspicion and the spread of negative rumors, including the false idea that Japanese workers were secret soldiers sent for invasion. To avoid strikes spreading, plantation bosses separated Japanese from local workers, which ironically made the Japanese group more united.

Peru’s fear about East Asian immigrants

The idea of “Yellow Peril”-seeing East Asians as potential threats-became common in Peru. As the Japanese community became more established and some sent their children to Japan for school, suspicion grew. Media and new laws painted the community as dangerous and unfair competitors. This led to the 1940 “Saqueo” riots, where mobs attacked Japanese homes and shops in Lima, killing 10 people and leaving many injured or homeless. Some families tried to disguise their heritage to stay safe. The memory of these events still affects the community today.

Japanese-Peruvian identity and cultural influence

Over time, Japanese Peruvians developed a special identity, blending their heritage with Peruvian culture. This mix appears in language, food, education, and community activities.

Language, education, and schools

Many first-generation immigrants (Issei) kept speaking Japanese and wanted their children to learn Japanese culture. They set up Japanese schools as local Peruvian schools were often too crowded for the growing community. While these schools kept culture alive, some Peruvians saw them as a sign of not wanting to fit in. Today, the Asociación Academia de Cultura Japonesa in Lima continues this tradition, offering Japanese classes and cultural activities for new generations.

Religious and social organizations

Besides formal schooling, churches and community groups played a big part in helping Japanese Peruvians keep their traditions and support newcomers. While most Japanese Peruvians eventually became Catholic like most Peruvians, some still practiced Shinto and celebrated Japanese festivals. Groups like the Central Japanese Society and sports clubs like AELU brought people together for events, sports, and support, and even contributed to national projects, like financing a statue for Peru’s centennial. These organizations were key to building and showing pride in their heritage while connecting with the larger Peruvian society.

Food: Japanese influence on Peruvian cuisine

One of the most noticeable impacts of the Japanese community is on Peruvian food. Nikkei cuisine fuses Japanese cooking styles with Peruvian ingredients, especially seafood, creating something new. Dishes like ceviche inspired sushi rolls (like Acevichado maki) are popular across Peru and internationally. Famous chefs such as Nobu Matsuhisa have helped make Nikkei cuisine known all over the world, combining the two food traditions into a unique and well-loved style.

The Japanese-language press and media

Japanese newspapers started appearing in Peru by the 1920s, offering community news and information from Japan, which helped keep the far-flung community connected. A well-known example is Nippi Shimpo (“Japanese Peruvian News”), launched in 1921. While these papers were very important, during World War II the Peruvian government banned Japanese-language media, suspecting it spread anti-Peruvian ideas. Later on, as younger generations spoke more Spanish, many community newspapers switched languages or included both, helping the community keep its ties while growing closer to the rest of Peru.

Impact of World War II on Japanese Peruvians

World War II deeply affected the Japanese community in Peru, leading to some of the harshest treatment they ever faced-including arrests, forced deportation, and property loss.

Internment, deportation, and property loss

After Pearl Harbor in 1941, anti-Japanese feeling grew quickly. Under pressure from the United States, Peru began collecting names and arresting Japanese Peruvians, often without any legal process. Nearly 1,800 were taken from their homes and sent to U.S. internment camps in states such as Texas and New Mexico. The Peruvian government took much of the community’s property, many times just so it could be given to others more favored by the government or local population.

The Japanese Peruvian diaspora in the United States

The deportees were placed in camps with Japanese Americans, living under tough conditions for years, often with the intention that they would be traded for American prisoners held in Japan. There were divisions even inside the camps, with language and culture differences between Japanese Peruvians and Japanese Americans. After the war, many were unable to return to Peru and ended up staying in the U.S. Some found new homes in places like New Jersey’s Seabrook Farms. This movement created a new wing of the Nikkei diaspora in North America.

After wartime injustice

Even after the war, many Japanese Peruvians remained in camps, and Peru did not accept them back. Unlike Japanese Americans, who got a public apology and compensation from the U.S. in 1988, Japanese Peruvians were mostly left out, as they were considered “illegal aliens.” Eventually, a class-action suit led to a small compensation offer in 1998, which many found unsatisfactory. Stories about this period became more widely known only much later, as survivors and their families spoke out and demanded justice for the wrongs they suffered.

Post-war changes and new migration patterns

After World War II, the Japanese community in Peru had to recover from huge losses and start again, all while adjusting to a new world and, in more recent years, sometimes moving back to Japan.

Rebuilding and participation in society

Losses from the war-confiscated property, destroyed businesses, and family splits-forced the community to work hard to rebuild. The new generation (Nisei), who spoke Spanish and were more at home in Peru, focused on educating their children and creating schools, sports centers, and community networks. Changing world attitudes after 1948 helped too. Public reaction shifted in favor of the Japanese community, especially after widely publicized events, like the Teófilo Toda cycling scandal in the 1950s, when the public and media stood up against discrimination. By the 1960s, Japanese Peruvians were more active in national politics, and Peru reopened its door to Japanese immigrants in 1960.

Reverse migration: The Dekasegi movement

In the 1980s and 1990s, Peru’s economy was in crisis, while Japan had a strong economy and needed factory workers. Japan let people of Japanese descent (Nikkei), including those from Peru, come work back in Japan. About 60,000 Japanese Peruvians left for jobs in Japan, helping their families back home with the money they earned. This created new challenges in adapting, since many found Japan both familiar and strange, given their mixed Peru-Japan identity.

Notable Japanese Peruvians and their contributions

Japanese Peruvians and their children have added a lot to Peru, not just in surviving difficult times but in business, sports, culture, and politics.

Alberto Fujimori: The Japanese-Peruvian president

Alberto Fujimori became president of Peru in 1990-the first person of Asian background to lead a country outside Asia. His election showed changing attitudes about Japanese descendants in Peru. Fujimori is known for helping Peru’s economy and fighting the Shining Path rebel group, but also for an authoritarian style, human rights issues, and corruption. His presidency left a deep mark and still sparks debate today. He resigned in a scandal and was granted citizenship in Japan, creating strain between the two countries for some years.

Contributions in arts, science, sports, and public life

The Japanese-Peruvian community’s business cooperatives, originally started to serve those denied access to banks, are now key financial institutions. Well-known sports figures include soccer player José Pereda Maruyama and karate champion Akio Tamashiro. Arturo Yamasaki refereed the famous 1970 World Cup “Match of the Century.” Other leaders include former Prime Minister Jaime Yoshiyama and Augusto Miyashiro, long-time mayor of Chorrillos. The community also participates in arts, science, and public service, showing just how wide their impact is on Peru’s progress.

The Japanese community in Peru today and its legacy

Now, the Japanese-Peruvian community is a strong, respected part of Peruvian life. While the struggles of the past have shaped them, today’s generation looks ahead with pride in both their Japanese and Peruvian backgrounds.

Integration into Peruvian society

Japanese Peruvians are an accepted and valued group in Peru. By 1989, most were Catholic, and newer generations speak Spanish more than Japanese. Community centers now offer Japanese culture not only to Nikkei but also to many other residents of Lima. Hospitals, restaurants, and cultural events highlight how closely Japanese Peruvians are linked to the wider society. Attitudes over time have shifted from suspicion to respect, and now Japanese Peruvians are seen as fully Peruvian while maintaining their distinct heritage.

Keeping Japanese traditions alive

Even as Japanese Peruvians become more woven into Peruvian life, many still honor and share their Japanese roots, through festivals, clubs, and community gatherings, and by remembering their shared history. The movement of people to and from Japan in recent times has made the community even more aware of its unique identity. Some restaurants and bars in Tokyo now serve Peruvian food and speak both languages, showing that the cultural exchange goes both ways. Today, Japanese Peruvians balance being both fully Peruvian and proud of their Japanese origin, making sure their heritage continues for future generations.